The Penn's Grove record., 1887-09-17
BRITISH
The Leading Statesman of New ZeH
land Says Ii Will BE Necessary.

Sir William Fitzherbert, a prominenI
colonial statesman, arrived in San Fran
cisco, CAL, enroute for New Zealand
recently. Sir William is the Speaker
OF the Legislative Assembly of New
Zealand, and his mission to England
was that Of delegate to the ColonlaI
Conference, which took place in Lon.
don some months past. Few New Yea
land statesmen have had a public
career OF so much distinction as Sill
William Fuzherbert, He came to the
colonies in the very early days, and has
since occupied almost every Office OF
prominence in the gift of the people.
Before the Capitalization of govern.
melt in New Zealand he was elected
TO the SUPPLEMENTARY OF the province
of New Zealand, and since that time
has taken Office in several ministries,
latterly being Speaker of the House of
Representatives. On his elevation to
the Upper House he was unanimously
chosen Speaker OF that body, his acute
ness, together with his absence of bias
and knowledge of men and affairs
throughout the colony, particularly fit
ting him for the position. Though Sir
William Is by no means a young man,
his mind retains its pristine yigor un-
impaired.
"Was any system of federation for
INFLATED at the c~onferenceP" asked the
reporter.
Federation ITSELF" SAID Sir vii
liam, twas not spoken or, The purpose
of the conference vas really to draw
closer the bonds of union between the
mother country and her colonies to
promote an exchange of views upon
questions of mutual interest. l was
surprised, however, to find that Eng
fish public opinion in reference 70 colo
NAL matters has undergone, of late, an
entire change. A change, indeed,
which can only be described as a com
plete revolution of feeling, On a pre-
yious occasion. some years back, I was
called to England on colonial business.
and found prevailing there the pro-
foundest ignorance regarding matters
colonial. | suggested at that time,"
said Sir William, with a quiet smile,
shat the Londoners, instead Of spend
ing their vacations on the Mediter-
ranean, should maks it their business
to visit the country's dependencies In
the South Seas"
1.-The Australian colonies" con-
tinued Sir William, fare a large and
growing power. Within the few years
of their existence they have attained a
surprising strength. They offer the
best solution for the problem of over
population, for In their vast extent
there is room for millions of people,"
"What changes would be involved, +"
asked the reporter. SIN the systems of
colonial government were federation
adoptedP"
THAT was a question which was not
touched upon. The conference, you
know, was merely preliminary-a
clearing the way for a~fter-action. The
views expressed by my fellow-dele-
gates, together with the expressions of
opinion from the many prominent
Englishmen with whom | spoke, made
me see the question of federation in
another light. Impressed by their ar
guments L became a member of the
League and will now Go ali in my
power to bring about its objects. The
idea of federation and the problem as
to how it may be successfully applied
seems to me the greatest problem now
before humanity. You Americans
have solved it with an extraordinary
degree of success. 1t remains for us to
agree upon some method by which we
will be secured the highest measure of
local self-government with the greatest
degree of supreme central authority.
That is what we want. We in the colo
MES are agreed upon the necessity of
such measures. Their application viii
follow in due course.n